SUP paddling tour: Around Sirmione peninsula, Lake Garda

Paddle the Sirmione peninsula, see the Grotte di Catullus from the water, time your return for sunset

A stand-up paddleboard (SUP) activity on Lake Garda where you paddle around the Sirmione peninsula with an assigned instructor, viewing the Grotte di Catullus caves and stopping on Jamaica beach. The experience runs about 1.5 hours and is customizable for longer paddles or extended stops to catch the sunset. All equipment (board, paddle, fins, leash, life jacket and a dry bag for documents) is supplied.

The experience

What makes this different from a guided boat tour is that you're on the water yourself, standing on the board and paddling. The instructor meets you a few hundred meters from Sirmione's port and works with your skill level: if you've paddled before, you move at a faster pace. If it's your first time on a board, the pace stays patient and deliberate. Either way, you're moving around the peninsula under your own power, which changes what you see and how close you can get to the shoreline.

The route circles Sirmione's rocky edges, passing the Grotte di Catullus (the Roman cave ruins visible from the water) and stopping at Jamaica beach. The instructor can adjust the route or add time if you want to linger: particularly useful if you're timing the paddle to catch the sunset, which the operator notes turns the peninsula especially vivid. A watertight dry bag keeps your phone, wallet and documents safe. Bottled water is provided. The meeting point is walkable from the port, though Sirmione's parking is limited and costs about three euros per hour. Arriving by ferry from elsewhere on Lake Garda is an alternative.

The activity suits anyone comfortable on a board or willing to learn. The operator notes it's easy for experienced paddlers and requires patience for first-timers, but is suitable across fitness levels. Arrive ten minutes early, and check traffic conditions on the day you book: Sirmione gets busy, especially in peak season. An instructor speaks Spanish or Italian.

What’s included

• Stand-up paddleboard, paddle, fins, leash, life jacket, and dry bag for documents.
• bottled water.
• instructor guidance in Spanish or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00 and 19:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideSpanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Sup Lago di Garda

Is this one for you?You paddle the board yourself with an instructor present, so this suits anyone who wants to be on the water actively rather than watching from a boat, and the customizable pace means first-timers and experienced paddlers both work with the same guide. If you're timing it for sunset, the instructor can build that into the route.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in Spanish and Italian.

How difficult is it to stand on a SUP board if I've never done it before?

First-time paddlers will need patience to get comfortable on the board, but the instructor adjusts the pace to your experience level. The activity is suitable across fitness levels, and the instructor customizes the experience based on how you're doing, so you're not rushed.

What happens if I want to stay longer to catch the sunset?

You can customize the experience for a longer paddle or extended stops, so timing your return for the sunset is possible. The instructor works with you on this when you meet.

What's included in the activity, and do I need to bring anything?

The SUP board, paddle, fins, leash, life jacket and a dry bag for your documents are all supplied. Bottled water is included. You just need to bring yourself and wear clothes you don't mind getting wet.

Where exactly do I meet the instructor, and how do I get there?

The meeting point is a few hundred meters from Sirmione's port. If you're arriving by car, parking costs about three euros per hour and spaces are limited. If you're coming from another part of Lake Garda, you can take the ferry directly to Sirmione's port instead.

What are the Grotte di Catullus, and will I see them up close?

The Grotte di Catullus are Roman cave ruins on Sirmione's shoreline. Paddling around the peninsula lets you view them from the water, which gives a perspective you wouldn't get from land.